2023: Analysing Political Tsunami In Imo West As Chief Ahize & Recovery Campaign Team Storm Nwangele LGA

The abrupt, stunning, startling and unpredictable political tsunami that eventually hit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former main opposition party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Orlu Senatorial zone has defied all known political permutations by analysts and keen observers of the politics of Imo West Senatorial District since the new wave of political renaissance of the Labour Party’s Third Force emerged through her most sellable and popularly acceptable candidate for the 2023 general elections, Chief Charles Ugochukwu Ahize -Chukwu.

As part of its campaign policy of social awareness through familiarization tour; sensitization and consultations with party faithful, avowed supporters of Labour Party across political divides, respected community leaders and critical stakeholders while inaugurating its Ward Coordinators in the 12 Local Government areas of Imo West Senatorial District; a rather proactive and most engaging Orlu Recovery Campaign Train, ably led by Chief Charles Ahize alongside the Director General of his Campaign Organisation, Chief Dr. C.C. Ubah and Special Adviser on Politics and Strategy, Chief Dr. Batos Nwadike (Oyi of Igboland), visited Nwangele LGA for inauguration amid heart-warming reception and expressed excitement as the people sighted the Orlu incoming Senator, Chief Ahize, with one of their illustrious sons, Dr. Batos Nwadike.

The highly impressive attendance at the Umuokpu – Abajah town hall in Nwangele LGA, Imo State, recorded an avalanche of solidarity by different support groups like; Peter Obi Solidarity Group, 2023 Ambassadors For Obi-Datti, Peter Obi Vanguard Support Group, Charles Ahize Nwangele Youth Movement, Charles Ahize Vanguard, market women, petty traders, the youth, community leaders, APC and PDP members, who are genuinely rooting for a true change in leadership.

Meanwhile, a number of the retired but not tired pensioners in Nwangele LGA were also not left out as they trekked down to the venue of the event to listen to a  ‘New Nigeria Message’ of restoration and recovery of Orlu senatorial zone as encapsulated in the political campaign exponents of the duo of Labour Party’s  presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi,  and her candidate for Imo West Senatorial District, High Chief Charles Ugochukwu Ahize.

Setting the wheels of progress of the event in motion, an obviously elated Director General of Charles Ahize Senatorial Campaign Organisation (CASCO), Chief Dr. C.C. Ubah, commended Nwangele LGA Labour Party under the Chairmanship of Hon. Ken Iwuoha, Coordinator of Charles Ahize Campaign Organisation in the area, Barr. Obinwa  Etukemka and other organisers of the rally for playing different strategic roles toward its huge success, assuring them of victory with the level of massive  support across political divides that the Labour Party and her senatorial candidate in Orlu zone, Chief Charles Ahize, are enjoying.

 

He however, charged the 11 inaugurated Ward Coordinators of the Campaign Organisation in Nwangele LGA to be foot soldiers of Chief Charles Ahize in their respective communities with a renewed energy and mandate to go out and win more people into the party as victory is already assured, while noting that those found wanting in the discharge of their assignments through reported cases of gross misconduct and inability to deliver will be replaced immediately.

With an unusual electrified speech that got his audience almost rolling on the floor in laughter, Chief Dr. Batos Nwadike, immediate past Special Adviser on Political Matters to Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, strongly advised Nwangele people and ndi Orlu to ignore the bogus claims of those who are coming to seek their votes again as they have nothing to show for the 8 years they wasted in the National Assembly; as the only achievement they could boast of was to move a colourless motion to change Nigeria’s national anthem. Asking his Nwangele audience; whether changing of Nigeria’s national anthem and flag would add food on their tables, pay children’s school fees or even hospital bills to ameliorate the sufferings of Orlu people? He maintained that those who are counting on experience and ranking to be re-elected have nothing to show for their years of experience in the National Assembly as they could not even defend Orlu people in Abuja and Lagos when Igbo people were being killed and unnecessarily harassed.

In a rather Obama-like resounding speech, which was greeted with a standing ovation by the women and his audience, Dr. Batos Nwadike highlighted the scorecard of his principal, Chief Charles Ahize, in practical human capacity development without noise, youth empowerment without publicity, advocacy for social justice without a clap trap, total defense of Ndigbo at the Ladipo market in Lagos State without hugging the media limelight, taking up the  ‘Apo 6 Case in Abuja’ where young six Igbo traders  returning home after the day’s hustle were abruptly killed by security operatives in a draconian brute force. Oyi of Igboland threw caution to the wind as he presented Labour Party’s candidate for Imo West Senatorial District, Chief Charles Ugochukwu Ahize -Chukwu, as the most qualified candidate with capacity, social contacts, wider reach, honest, friendly and accessible. More importantly, he has the courage and strength of character to make case for Orlu people and recover the zone from the wasted years that past and successive representatives of Imo West Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate held sway while converting  the people’s federal job slots and opportunities to personal use for their families and political cronies.

Chief Charles Ahize, Labour Party’s candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the February 2023 general elections, while thanking the youths, different support groups, party leaders and critical stakeholders in Nwangele LGA for their show of love and support; promised to use his personal contacts, good office if elected a Senator and close relationship with Mr. Peter Obi as next President of Nigeria to develop Orlu zone and Imo State given the huge natural resources and rich oil deposits in the area which mischievous elected public officers have been mismanaging over the years.

A pragmatic Chief Ahize, while promising to run an inclusive representation where everyone is a stakeholder reiterated his commitment to attract Federal Government presence and development across the 12 Local Government areas in Imo West Senatorial District, taking it as a social contract to give Federal jobs to the youths of Orlu zone which Nwangele LGA is very prominent.

In his words, “I will never let Nwangele people down as I have industrious and illustrious sons and daughters of the LGA as personal friends and business associates of over 20 years of relationship”.

Judging from the background of the foregoing, a respected community leader and opinion moulder in Nwangele LGA; former Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), High Chief Andrew Enwerem, however, lent credence to the senatorial aspiration of Chief Charles Ahize as he maintained that the Ihioma – Orlu born established entrepreneur and billionaire businessman turned politician is a revolutionary idea whose time has come.

The highly trained security expert, Andrew Enwerem, while recounting a number of the strategic roles and assistance rendered to him by High Chief Charles Ugochukwu Ahize- Chukwu during his active service years, promised to use his rich contacts and relationship across political divides to mobilize resources and galvanize supports for the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for Orlu zone, Chief Ahize, while collapsing every known structure to support Peter Obi for president  he expressed in strong terms that it is the new leadership direction Nigerians and Orlu people are titling towards.

The event, which had the background support and endorsement of the crème de la crème of Nwangele political leadership and stakeholders across party lines witnessed a deluge of veteran politicians, elder statesmen, key party chieftains and different interest groups from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and troubled Peoples Democratic Party in Nwangele LGA as this reporter spotted the likes of Chief Okey Onyeamlusi, former Nwangele Council Chairman, Oguefi Anyiam, Chief Augustus Ihenetu, UNCP and NPP Chairman of Nwangele LGA, Chief John Agbarakwe, Dr. Ephraim Anumnu, Chief Charles  Ugochukwu Bon snr, while Labour Party ‘s candidate for Nkwerre|Isu|Nwangele and Njaba Federal Constituency, Barr. Nwogu  Ozurumba and Edith Nwosu were also spotted out at the watershed political parley.

As Nigerians go to the polls in 2023 to elect their leaders, in Orlu Senatorial zone, Chief Charles Ugochukwu Ahize -Chukwu, the new rave, toast and bride of Imo West Senatorial District, no doubt, has raised the bar of campaign as he traversed the various political wards in Orlu zone while  basking in the euphoria of the alluring massive support the Labour Party under whose ‘Papa, Mama and Pikin logo’  he is contesting the elections.

Charley Akpuruka is moving with unrelenting force as he takes his message of Orlu Recovery to the doorsteps of his rivals;  Barr. Osita Izunaso and Evang. Jones Onyereri, in Oru East and Nkwerre Local Government Areas, respectively, consulting even the ordinary people as the other man relaxes in his luxurious Transcorp Hilton Apartment, Abuja, waiting for political magic from the governor.

Finding the center of gravity that holds the entire structure of your opponents is very key in political warfare. Chief Charles Ahize has unlocked their strategy and is marshalling out  his master plan to recover Orlu Senatorial zone and hand it over to the people.

Njoku Macdonald Obinna, an independent reporter and publisher, writes in from Nwangele LGA, Imo State.